So, we are set for an exciting Sunday when arch-rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer clash in the final of the Australian Open. Well, Nadal may have the edge if we talk of statistics, but the Spaniard is in no mood to bask in past glory. Talk of Australian Open, Nadal leads Federer by 3-0 and 6-2 in Grand Slam finals, but he isn’t the one to get carried away.
“No, that was a long time ago. It’s a different match, different moment for both of us. I think this match is completely different than what happened before,” Nadal was quoted by AFP. “It’s special. We have not been there in that situation for a while, so that makes the match different. I really don’t think about what happened in the past. I think the player who play better is going to be the winner,” he added.
The Spaniard however didn’t find going easy against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-final on Friday. It took Nadal five sets to finally score over Dimitrov to set up a title clash with Federer. “Now I’m going to go back to the locker room and say thanks to my team for the support, then just try to recover,” Nadal said.
“First of all, I need to go to sleep. That’s the first thing that is important for the recover. After that try to do all the things the right way to be ready for Sunday,” said the Spaniard who last won the Australian Open in 2009 and who has 14 Grand Slam singles titles to his credit.
“I am a positive person. I never say never because I worked very hard to be where I am. I really have been working very hard and very well,” said Nadal who had to unfortunately leave the French Open last year. I always had the confidence that if I am able to win some matches, then anything can happen. But last year was tough. When you feel that you are playing very well and you have to go from Roland Garros without going on court, I remember myself crying in the car coming back to the hotel. That was a tough moment,” said Nadal whose last Grand Slam singles hurray was in 2014 when he won the French Open.
For Federer too, Sunday, January 29 will be crucial as the Australia Open has eluded him after 2010, when he emerged victorious. His last Grand Slam win was in 2012 when he won the Wimbledon.
Two legends of the game, both hungry for a Grand Slam title will make for a cracker of a tie and all eyes are on Sunday when Nadal and Federer revive their rivalry one more time. Before that the Wiiliams sisters (Venus and Serena) face each other in the women’s singles today. The countdown begins!